The Ashland University baseball team split a doubleheader at Cedarville on Saturday (Mar. 15). The Eagles won the opener, 8-4 and lost the second game, 7-6. That loss put an end to a five-game AU winning streak. The Eagles are 10-5.
In the first game, the Eagles were behind, 3-2 after two innings and 4-3 after five frames. AU turned the tables on the Yellow Jackets (9-7) with a five-run sixth inning. That outburst gave the Eagles an 8-4 lead.
First baseman Tyler Gray rapped a two-run homer in that uprising. He was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. In addition to the homer, he had a double.
Outfielders Mackenzie Hampshire and Alex Sortwell both went 2-for-4. Hampshire had an RBI single in the sixth. Sortwell had a double.
Alex Smith went five innings to get the win. He allowed four runs on 10 hits. Smith (3-0) walked one and struck out four. David Devine provided airtight relief over the last two innings. He didn't allow a run or hit and whiffed three.
Jordan Adams, pitching in relief of David Bancroft, absorbed the loss.
Nathan Bancroft, Sam Summerlin and Harrison Martin had two hits each for Cedarville.
AU spent much of the nightcap playing from behind. Cedarville led, 4-0 after one inning and 6-0 after two innings. The Eagles scored four runs in the third inning and the game was tied, 6-6 entering the seventh innings.
Jon Thacker started for Ashland and lasted two innings. He allowed six runs on seven hits. Lefty Cole Hudson relieved Thacker and went the next 4.1 innings. He would take the loss, dropping to 0-2. Hudson allowed a run on one hit with four walks.
Shortstop Austin Walts led AU at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a triple. Ashland had eight hits.
Catcher David Lenhardt was 1-for-3 and drove in three runs for Cedarville. Center fielder Cam McWilliams was 2-for-3. Second baseman Marshall Johnson tripled.
Garrett Baker pitched 1.2 innings in relief to gain the win.
The Eagles open GLIAC play this Tuesday (Mar. 18, 3 p.m.) against Wayne State. That doubleheader will be played in Chillicothe, Ohio.
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